That seems to be Brookside’s status at the moment with regard to Channel 4. Its contract SHOULD have been renewed with the network this month. Instead, the programme’s been put ‘under review’. My interpretation of this phrase is that it means a ‘suck-it-and-see’ approach is being taken by Channel 4 with regard to Brookside, specifically with regard to the fact that the programme has lost yet another 500,000 viewers in the past year.
Why?
Over-long storylines that are poorly researched, poorly written and poorly acted, repetitious themes pervading certain characters’ development (or lack thereof), overuse of certain characters in the extreme (the blatant posturing taken by TPTB in pushing the Corkhill family, and Lindsey Corkhill in particular, as the series stars), the continued existence of characters whose welcome was worn to a frazzle ages ago and the singular ability of the Brookside writers to take a storyline bursting with potential and turn it into sheer dross, dominated by the ability to bore to tears.
Phil Redmond has a monumental task before him, in basically reconstructing Brookside. My suggestion is that he should make a point to watch the repeats of Brookside currently being shown on Sky. Then he should ask himself how something so good and original had become so rotten and mundane.
It’s the morning of the second day of the Dixon trial, and again, the entire Close appears to be a beehive of activity. Max Farnham sits in his car (how many cars does the Farnham family have? Max’s Range Rover, Jacqui’s Cougar, and this luxury model which appeared to have belonged to Susannah), parked in what appears to be the centre of the Close. He’s obviously waiting for his wife and her family to descend in order to make the trek to Court. As he sits in the vehicle, Marty and Ant Murray emerge from Sitcom House.
As they step outside, Max waves to them and they return his greeting. Marty is accompanying Ant to school, and Ant (surprise, surprise) is reluctant to go. Marty encourages him, reminding him that Imelda hasn’t been in school for the past few days. (Imelda seems to be the instigator of the bullying with Paige, because when Imelda is absent, Paige seems unable to follow suit with regard to Antony).
Mike and Ron Dixon emerge from the House of Horrors, with Mike Dixon struggling to put on his tie. Ron is wondering aloud whether Mike should even attend the trial today, having just returned from his night shift. Mike is losing precious sleep time, for Ron’s sake; but Mike is adamant that he wants to attend the session, in full support of Ron.
At the same time, Jacqui and Rachel emerge from the walkway to The Parade, accompanied by Lindsey Corkhill, who’s covered from head to waist in what appears to be motor oil. It appears that Lindsey has been a victim of an accident at work, concerning the delivery of an oil supply. The other two girls are returning from the mystery creche that has turned up on The Parade in Trona’s absence, having left their children there. They chat and commiserate with Lindsey about her accident, and Lindsey takes time to ask Jacqui to wish Ron luck on her behalf, before remarking that she’s going to be busy most of the morning scrubbing oil from her body and hair. Jacqui helpfully advises that it takes ages to remove oil from hair.
As Lindsey enters Hotel Corkhill, Jacqui slides into the car beside Max. Max notices Lindsey’s physical state and remarks upon it looking as though she were involved in an oil spill. Jacqui is unsympathetic. Lindsey has the opportunity of a great job in Newcastle, and if she’d rather stick around here getting paid peanuts and dowsed in oil, that was her problem.
Max asks her if the kids settled into nursery all right. Jacqui remarks that Beth seemed a bit clingy to Rachel, but otherwise the children were fine.
Lindsey enters Hotel Corkhill to find Jimmy - where else? - on the computer - no, in the kitchen. She pointedly draws Jimmy’s attention to her state. She explains that she had been doing the meter readings on the pumps when the oil delivery arrived. The next thing she knew, one of the cannisters had exploded and she was covered in oil. She had to return home in that state, only to be laughed at by half the Close.
Anyway, she announces, frustrated, is there any chance of Jimmy turning the hot water on so she could have a bath and wash her hair? Sorry, Jimmy tells her. He’s just had a bath, himself, and used all the hot water. Lindsey stomps off in an impotent rage.
The entire Dixon clan wait in the corridor at the court. There’s been a delay in proceedings, but no one will tell them what’s transpired. Ron paces back and forth, mouthing his opinion that things have got into a snag because the court probably had to listen to the pleas of some asylum seeker.
Suddenly, the Crown’s barrister passes by swiftly, engrossed in a conversation on his mobile phone and followed by a dozen chattering minions. The Dixons and Max exchange suspicious glances. Max is of the opinion that something has happened concerning the trial.
Back on the Close, Raymundo is about to do some gardening, followed by Jerome, who’s doing his bit to smarm up to Nikki’s step-granddad. Jerome is curious as to why Ray has chosen not to attend the court proceedings.
No thank you, replies Ray. He’d lived through the original attack. He doesn’t want to relive the moment.
Jerome begins to chide Ray about being a dark horse - it seems that Nikki’s told Jerome all about Ray’s secret past. Ray looks quizzical, and Jerome explains that it has to do with Ray’s army days. Oh, when he did his National Service, Ray exclaims, relieved. Jerome affects disappointment. He was hoping Ray had proven to be some high-calibre secret agent. Ray scoffs this idea and intimates that Jerome had originally said he would help in the garden.
(What was the purpose of the above scene?)
The court as assembled, but without the jury. The judge, a woman, explains that she has taken the precaution of not calling the jury in at the moment because she understands that there has been an alteration in proceedings.
The defence barrister stands and informs the judge that he has been advised by the Crown that they intend to call Gobby Moffatt as a witness, who will testify that he was in the Dixon house the night that Clint Moffatt was shot.
The Crown protests that Moffatt’s testimony will prove to be justified, and the defence objects that it will serve only to alter the case of the prosecution. The Crown responds by saying that Gobby Moffatt only came forward the previous evening as a witness and understands the repercussions of his testimony.
Raymundo and Jerome continue to work in the garden, whilst Ray regales Jerome with tales of his youth. He was 22 when he finished his National Service in 1956, Ray says. He was stationed in Malaysia. He glosses over his National Service days and begins to reminisce about how he spent the rest of his youth when he returned.
Jerome finds it hard to believe that Ray’s youth was spent primarily over forty years ago. He’d always imagined Ray as part of the Sixties, long hair and all. Oh, Ray had hair in the Sixties, all right, he says, everybody did. But he wasn’t a hippy, by a long way. No, Ray tells the lad. His main hairstyle came from his Fifties’ youth - a DA.
Jerome has never heard of a DA. It’s called a ‘duck’s arse’, explains Ray, and he shows the younger man how the end of one’s hair was curled into a quiff, resembling a duck’s arse. Ray, he confesses, was a Teddy Boy and a member of the notorious Broadway Gang in Liverpool.
Jerome laughs and reckons that a DA sounds like a mad hairstyle, but Ray points to the dead hairy spider lodged on top of Jerome’s head and tells the lad he should look in the mirror, himself.
So Ray was a Teddy Boy? Asks Jerome in disbelief. With stovepipe trousers and all?
Ray nods. Complete with drapes, crepes and drainpipes - oh, and fighting too.
Gang fights? Questions Jerome, in misplaced admiration. Is Ray saying he was a hard man?
It was a carry-over from his days in Malaysia, Ray explains. The lads saw a few good fights there, he could say - between the Tiger beers and the CT’s.
CT’s? Jerome scoffs, with the ignorant condescension that students display in regard to anyone who knows more about the past than they do. What were they? Unarmed peasants?
Ray tells Jerome that the CT’s were the Communist Terrorists - and very dangerous they were too.
The Dixon family sits waiting outside the courtroom, as Max approaches them with a cup of tea. Incongruously sitting amongst them, is poor, pitiful, ugly Katie. She hates the Dixons, yet she’s curiously drawn to their presence. Probably because she hopes to shame them by her sad presence. Little does she realise that the more intelligent members of the clan view her with the contempt that she deserves.
Max has learned that all the flurry and secrecy is down to the fact that the prosecution has produced an new witness. Anthea almost pisses herself when she hears this. Rachel, who’s mental IQ must be in the region of about -20, wonders daftly who the witness could be.
‘Who do you think?’ Screams Anthea. ‘It’s got to be Robbie!’
Back at Hotel Corkhill, there is another insignificant and unnecessary scene where Lindsey moans to Jimmy about the trials and tribulations about working in the garage, and why she couldn’t take the new job in Newcastle because it would mean deserting Jimmy. Jimmy is left to ponder this reality.
Over at Brookie Comp, the Antichrist has sought out his earthly father, Marty. It’s close to break time and Ant wants to tell Marty that he doesn’t feel his father should have to look after him during school hours. Ant is still ashamed that he’s being bullied by girls.
Marty ignores this remark, instead suggesting that he and Ant go to the shops after school and buy sweets. Antony reluctantly agrees, but remarks that buying sweets won’t stop him from being bullied.
Back to the court and Gobby Moffatt is called by the Crown as a witness. As he waddles to the witness stand, the camera pans onto the jury and it appears that the man sitting in the middle of the front row happens to be George Harrison, or his doppelganger. (A ratings ploy by Brookside?)
He’s handed a Bible, by the Clerk - a book that would mean absolutely nothing to the likes of Gobby Moffatt, heathen that he is. He reads the oath from the card - again, a meaningless gesture for a yob like that.
Before his testimony begins, the judge informs Gobby that she wants to make sure that he understands that he is about to give evidence about the burglary that took place in the Dixon household the night Clint was shot. She also wants Gobby to understand that some of the evidence on which Gobby would testify might incriminate him. She has to advise him that if he chooses, he doesn’t have to disclose any information that might incriminate himself. (Plead the Fifth Amendment, we say in the US, having a written constitution).
Gobby indicates that he understands the repercussions and the questioning begins.
The Crown asks Gobby to clarify his relationship with the deceased, Clinton Moffatt. Gobby replies that Clint was ‘me broother’.
The Crown then asks Gobby’s whereabouts on the night of Clint’s death. Gobby replies that on the night that his ‘broother’ was MERR-DERRED -
At which point the defence objects strenuously. The defence barrister points out that there is no doubt that the accused didn’t shoot Clint Moffatt, but it was for the court to decide whether or not the act actually constituted murder.
Gobby answers the question again, saying that he was there, in the house when Clint was shot. Was he in the room? Asks the prosecution. He was in the Dixon’s kitchen when Clint was shot, Gobby replies, whereupon the Crown asks Gobby to explain, in his own words, the turn of events that happened.
Lindsey has ensured that Jimmy is getting around to the tasks he’s put off for so long. He’s now on the patio, armed with a stiff brush mot and pail of water, scrubbing at the outline of ‘Trevor’ on the patio. Lindsey emerges from the back door, somewhat cleaner, but in a foul humour. She roughly reminds Jimmy to remove his filthy shoes before he enters the house, because she knows SHE’LL be the one to clean them. And while he’s out here, Jimmy had better put a bit more elbow grease into getting rid of ‘Trevor’. And she turns on her heel and high-arses it back into the house.
Returning to the courtroom, Gobby Moffatt begins his inadequate testimony. He admits that he broke into the Dixon house, himself. Why was he there? Asks the prosecution. Gobby admits he had broken into the Dixon house in order to rob the place and to get back at the Dixons. Clint had followed him, unbeknownst to Gobby. Gobby was in the Dixon kitchen, when Clint emerged, he says. Gobby was standing in the middle of the kitchen, he says; and Clint was standing further inside the house. The two were having an argument about Clint’s presence, he continues.
Gobby continues by saying that the two were having an altercation when he heard an exchange of voices from the hallway. Asked if he could identify theses voices, he confirms that they were the voices of Ron and Anthea Dixon.
Why did he recognise these voices? Asks the Crown.
Gobby confirms that he knew Anthea and Ron, having been engaged to Jacqui Dixon. Max reaches over and takes Jacqui’s hand comfortingly, as they sit in the gallery.
So Ron and Anthea were speaking, continues the Crown. Where were they at this point?
Gobby replies that it seemed that they were on the stairs in the hallway. He heard Anthea tell Ron to put the gun away and leave the burglary to the police. Ron had replied that he couldn’t. Then Anthea had said for Ron to wait and she would call the police. And Ron had pointed out to her that the phone was in the room where the intruder was.
Was anything else said? Asks the Crown.
Yes, admits Gobby. He heard Ron say, ‘Stay back’.
Was that a warning, perhaps? Asks the Crown.
Gobby says that that was a warning, but to Anthea to stay out of the way.
The prosecution wants to establish that everything that Gobby says is accurate - a clear and accurate recollection of what happened that night. Gobby passionately affirms that the events of that night are burned into his brain (or what doubles as his brain).
It was after this last remark, Gobby says, that Ron had entered the room with the gun.
Did the accused say anything else after this? The Prosecution asks.
Gobby says that Ron shouted, ‘Get out or I’ll shoot!’ And he fired straight away.
Where was Gobby at this time? The prosecution wants to know. Gobby responds that he was out of sight in the Dixon kitchen.
So, the time lapse between the time Ron Dixon shouted and the shot being fired, pursues the prosecution, would Gobby say that was less than five seconds?
Yes, Gobby replies firmly. And Ron and Anthea would say the same thing, if they tell the truth, he adds.
Did Gobby’s brother at any time move toward Ron Dixon?
No. (Er, actually, yes he did, but hey - who’s clever enough amongst the viewers to remember?)
Was Clint armed with a knife?
No. He had no weapon, affirms Gobby.
So there was no need for Ron Dixon to have taken any action in which to defend himself, the prosecution asks for confirmation.
Gobby confirms that Clint posed no threat at all to Ron and that there was no need for Ron to act in self-defence. Clint was shot in cold blood.
The prosecution turns to the judge and asserts that what this witness has said is the truth. There was no reason for him to lie under oath. (Oh, no?). In fact, the Crown understands from the police that many people now keep guns as a deterrent against burglars. But why was Clint in the house in the first place? He asks Gobby.
Was Clint there to rob?
No, affirms Gobby.
Was he there to do harm?
No, replies Gobby, firmly.
The prosecution then reminds Gobby that he’s made a serious admission in a court of Law, regarding his own criminal behaviour that night, an admission that would result in his immediate arrest and proceedings against him.
Gobby asserts that he wants to make sure Clint gets justice and that his brother’s name is cleared. Clint wasn’t there to participate in the burglary. He was there to try to talk Gobby into stopping the robbing.
The judge interjects to address Gobby. Did he not realise, she asks, that the moment Gobby Moffatt had entered the Dixon house illegally that the crime of burglary had, itself, been constituted?
No, Gobby replies, he didn’t realise that.
(Thus, by implication, Clint is deemed to have committed a crime as well, as he entered illegally.)
So, the judge continues, Clint was unable to stop Gobby from making a forced entry? And Gobby entered the house first and Clint followed?
That’s right, says Gobby, but he maintains, stupidly thick of what the judge has implied, had Clint not been shot, he just might have prevented Gobby from continuing with the robbery.
The prosecution sits down and the defence barrister rises to question the fat yob. He begins by pointing out to the court that there is no question that Ron Dixon did not shoot Clint Moffatt. But the question is open as to whether the shot fired amounts to murder.
He turns to Gobby and asks if Clint had known before that night that Gobby was a burglar?
Gobby says Clint didn’t know. (Which is a blatant lie, because Clint suspected Gobby of being behind the first Dixon robbery from day one!)
Did Clint ever try to stop Gobby from doing anything before that night?
No, answers Gobby.
Well, why did his brother choose that night to try to stop Gobby from committing this act?
Gobby lies again and says he doesn’t know.
The defence barrister looks at Gobby and asks how Clint obtained entry that night to the Dixon household. Did he ring the front doorbell?
No, replies Gobby.
So it wasn’t a social call, then, surmises the defence. Not a very good job all around, jokes the barrister. He thought burglars were supposed to be as quiet as possible, yet Gobby had testified that he and his brother had a barney in the Dixons’ front room about Clint’s being there and NO ONE heard it. Did Gobby not realise that once illegal entry of a house has been effected, the person entering is ALREADY classified as a burglar under the law?
The defence puts it to the court that there was no attempt on Clint Moffatt’s part to stop the burglary. Rather, he was there to assist Gobby Moffatt.
No, Gobby maintains, losing his cool. Gobby was there to rob and Clint to try to stop him, until Ron Dixon had killed him.
The defence poses no further questions and sits down. At that moment, two uniformed policemen step forward with handcuffs and place them on Gobby’s fat wrists, leading him away.
As the trio leave the courtroom, they are followed at a distance by poor, pitiful, ugly Katie, who’s screaming in thick quasi-unintelligible Scouse.
Gobby looks over his shoulder at an uncomfortable Anthea as he’s ushered by, shouting at her that he told the truth. Anthea sinks lower in fright and confusion on the bench, as Katie passes her by, intent on verbally abusing Gobby.
Katie berates him for trying to be the hero of the piece when he’s really a spineless coward. He hid behind the Dixon cupboards, she accuses, whilst his brother was shot. Then he ran away and left poor Clint for dead. He didn’t even look back.
As she’s shouting this, she’s followed from the courtroom by Jacqui and Max.
Gobby turns to face her, struggling against the two burly coppers who are leading him away. Katie was a fine one to talk about Clint. She was always on about how much she loved Clint, yet Clint wasn’t cold in his grave before she was sleeping with Gobby.
And the double doors slam shut on this, his last remark, and the intelligent amongst the viewers can heave a sigh of relief and hope that this ends the tenure of one who was arguably the worst actor ever to appear on Brookside.
Jacqui and Max are stunned beyond comprehension at Gobby’s parting shot.
Returning to Hotel Corkhill, Jimmy enters the house, timidly affirming to Lindsey that he’s cleaned his own shoes, after she’d told him off.
Feeling a bit guilty at her reaction, Lindsey tells him that she was only messing about. Jimmy wants to know if Lindsey thinks he’s so helpless that she has to spend her life treating him like a kid. He doesn’t want to be looked after, especially by her - because that would be like wrecking Lindsey’s life.
He then confesses that he loves Lindsey too much to see her lose out. Why was Lindsey content to stay around here working at the garage in oil and filth, when she could have a brilliant job at that health club in Newcastle?
Lindsey protests that she’s not interested in Newcastle, not even with all its pay perks. She’s afraid Jimmy can’t handle life on his own, and she wants to be there for him.
Jimmy protests that that he doesn’t need her anymore.
There’s been a brief adjournment of the court proceedings and the Dixons mill about in the corridor. Rachel, understandably, is commiserating with Anthea after her terrifying encounter with Gobby. Mike and Ron stand nearby. Mike is worried, after hearing Gobby’s testimony. He glances at the visibly nervous Anthea, commenting to Ron that he reckons that the prosecution will destroy Anthea. Ron observes how evil Gobby is.
Poor, pitiful, ugly Katie still stands rigidly in the hall, her back to the Dixons, before suddenly realising that Jacqui has heard the all-too-true accusation issued from Gobby’s lips. Suddenly, she storms off down the hall, stomping noisily.
As she does so, Jacqui shouts taunts after her, until Max pulls her back, attempting to stop her.
‘Why should I?’ Demands Jacqui. ‘She keeps going on about the Dixons being scum, when look at her. Clint hardly dead before she’s sleeping with Robbie. If she thinks the Dixons are scum, she should look in the mirror!’ (A true assessment of Katie, in my opinion).
Ron and Mike worry audibly about whether or not Anthea would be able to hold the defence together.
Jimmy appears to be making an effort finally with the outside shutters. Lindsey appears at the door, having thought about what Jimmy has said so far. She can’t walk out, she maintains. Jimmy needs her.
Well, Jimmy begins. He needs her for what? He’s remembered to take his tablets and he’s even doing the shutters. Did Lindsey realise what would make Jimmy feel better? If Lindsey got a new job and a new life. When you hit rock bottom, Jim says, the only way is up; and Lindsey reckons that here, she’s on rock bottom. He finishes his pep talk by telling her she’s the best daughter in the world, but he doesn’t need her support anymore.
Lindsey promises she’ll sleep on the decision to go to Newcastle and make a decision tomorrow.
Back in the courtroom, the defence calls Ron to the stand. Taking the stand and the oath, Ron appears firm in his resolve.
The defence reminds Ron that he stands accused of murder. How does he plead?
Not guilty, says Ron.
But Ron does admit that he shot Clint Moffatt? In fact, Ron admitted as much to the police, himself. He reminds the court that it isn’t in dispute that Ron shot Clint. What IS in question is whether or not Ron’s action actually amounted to what can be called murder. In view of the evidence now presented by the prosecution, did Ron wish to change his plea?
Ron replies negatively.
So, Ron still pleads ‘not guilty’ to murder, the defence probes.
‘ABSOLUTELY,’ replies Ron in a voice firm with conviction. ‘NOT
GUILTY.’
Summary © 2001 Marion Watts
Brookside and all related materials are © Mersey Television 1982-2001